A writer blogs about God, family, hope, time, health, relationships.

Monthly Archives: June 2016

A friend of mine said she told her granddaughter that I blog. She said, “Grandma, do you know what blogging is?”

“I think so,” she said.

“Well, Grandma, she doesn’t blog, because only young people blog.”

So she asked me if I blog. I told her I do, but I’m not great with the visuals because when I downloaded pictures, my computer got goofed up. I’m just happy to be meeting my commitment to show up fairly regularly. Any photographs I manage to import are a plus. I plan on improving my skills, but not until next week at least.

Anyway, the group of us heard this delightful story and started to laugh. I suggested she inform her granddaughter that older people do blog, and I’m one of them.

I’ve been purposely including Scripture in my blogs lately because of our social climate. I feel that people are hungry for God, even if they’re not aware of it, because of all the vampire books and wizardry books and powerful hero books (and movies) that are popular.

My family gathered to see the Disney movie “Finding Dory” today and I couldn’t help but notice that many new movies coming out for children have spiritual roots to them. I only saw some of the previews because we were late entering the theater, but they were filled with Eastern religious heroes, or presenting evolutionary ideas, or aliens. I didn’t see anything representing Christianity. With bullying and marital problems and thefts and crime and stress, it seems that people look to the occult instead of Jesus. Some go to drugs when they can’t cope or to alcohol for courage or peace instead of Jesus. If people get brainwashed against Christ, they may not even go to Him in a crisis.

Jesus told His followers in Mat 5:13, (KJV) “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

My husband has been preaching that if our community sees the members of our church living the gospel of Jesus Christ:

Believing in God and God the Son, Jesus Christ

Repenting of sin and making things right as soon as possible if they’re able to when they’ve done wrong to someone

Asking God to forgive them and receiving His forgiveness and grace

Helping the poor and the widows

Being kind to those in the church and outside of the church

Living a Christian life as God directs us: Not being covetous, not having sex outside of marriage and only in a heterosexual union, respecting authority, not filled with rage and then acting it out, etc.

then they may find the goodness of God through our example and come to salvation and deliverance and freedom from bondages that Jesus provides. Heaven instead of hell is also a wonderful thing.

Anyhow, to God be the glory in our lives. When we live that way, life should be abundant for us and our loved ones as Jesus wants it to be, according to John 10:10.

Our church has a pastor that wants to teach a Bible study on Wednesday nights on questions about why God allows bad things to happen.

I got thinking about that tonight because this morning my husband just finished eating breakfast and then out of nowhere, a bee crawled on his back and stung him. Later, he enjoyed himself the best he could and then we had somewhere to be. I went one way and he went another. While I listened to a story of a terrible crime and a drug addicted judge under the influence who never recused himself when the perpetrators came to court, I thought how strange life can be. Up one minute with joyful moments and then down hours later as I heard about the criminals getting off of the worst charges because of the judge and the law’s requirement – criminals can’t be tried for the same crime twice – that’s double jeopardy. So they all went to jail on much lesser charges.

Got back to where my husband was and he looks like he had a great day but now he’s tired out. I told him I heard a depressing story and he didn’t ask what it was about and I didn’t tell him, just like I’m not telling the details here.

I did say that some people don’t believe there’s a devil, but when I hear of horrific things happening, it makes me wonder how they can doubt there’s a devil. Jesus said the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to give life and that abundantly in John 10:10.

Not that the devil does the deed, but he’s behind the idea to do the evil acts.

I left thoughts of the tragedy behind and took some time with some young people, innocent and happy to tell me about their day and then asking me to spell things. Such joy.

The only way I can cope with emotions going one way and then in the opposite direction is to look to Jesus and His Word. Yesterday I read a few psalms that altered my upset attitude. What a great God we serve. This is one of them: Psa 46:1 (KJV) To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Psa 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psa 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Psa 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psa 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

Psa 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psa 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

I’m not sure why my emotions went up and down as much as they did yesterday, but I know that reading the Word of God gave me such peace, I was overwhelmed with the goodness of God. After that, I was steady all day and all day today. How great is our God!

I’ve been spending time with family more than usual lately. I asked my husband what the date was today and realized the end of the month is closing in. I still haven’t sent out the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” stories which are due by June 30. So, I’m going to look at them one more time and then send them out.

I also realized I’d slipped up on my commitment to blog daily except for Sundays lately. So, even though I’m a bit weary, I revved up the computer and here goes.

My son and his wife paid for his children and his sister’s children to go to an indoor jumping, climbing, etc. type of facility. What an excellent opportunity for family fun and exercise and it’s a way to avoid inclement weather. We weren’t sure if it might rain. So, we went with them and it didn’t hurt to have two more sets of hands and eyes on the active youngsters.

I love having grandchildren. We laughed with them and later, I got ice for one of the boys when he hurt his knee. He seems fine tonight.

Psa_127:3,(KJV) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

When I was a young lady, I wondered if I should have children or not. The culture seemed to be preaching against having children. It would be bad for the overextended planet. It’s hard to bring children into a messed up world, etc., etc. What about the mother and her right to work or play unrestricted?

I remember speaking to my older brother about it. He leaned more towards having children. They’ve added so much to my life and provision always came along. I’m so glad I ignored societies’ subtle and not so subtle injunction to severely limit child bearing. My life would be much different without offspring.

Proverbs_17:22, (KJV) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

I’ve had a chance to see my grandchildren lately and I thought I’d tell you some of the funny things they told me or their parents mentioned.

One of my children took a trip South, about a fourteen hour journey by car not counting rest stops. In the very beginning of the trip, the youngest girl, age five told her older brother, age seven that he should ride his bike to the Southern state.

The oldest son told his mom that they should arrive at their destination within an hour. When the other adult in the car said, “You’d better get comfortable in your seat. We’ll be in the car for two days.”

He shook his head in the negative. “No, we’re almost there.”

“How can you say that?”

“Oh, I’m always right.”

His mom said, “Oh, you are, are you? I don’t think so.”

“Mom, I’m always right, you know that.”

His mom cracked up laughing because he’s so innocent and so sure.

My son says a prayer before eating: “Lord, thank you for this food, bless the hands that prepared it and protect us from anything harmful that might be in it. In Jesus’ name I pray.”

The kids couldn’t understand “bless the hands that prepared it.”

So they started saying “hands for the parrot.”

They do it now at almost every meal, and now they say it at bedtime, too.

Our Ladies Bible Study meets with a few purposes in mind on Wednesday mornings. One is to study the Word of God. Another is to visit and get to know each other better. The third reason is to pray for the needs of the participants and for broader concerns. We pray for our country and for people with sicknesses or financial distress or in need of spiritual re-birth, etc.

Sometimes practical concerns come up. Today we got talking about clutter and the stress and the confusion it can cause. One of the ladies suggested those of us who may suffer from too much stuff could remove five things from our home every two days or every four days. Just five things, it’d be easy.

We talked about exercising and eating healthy. Small steps in the right direction can make such a difference in our energy level, our brain feeling joy from the endorphins that exercise releases, our circulatory systems functioning at a better capacity. One of the ladies said when she exercised one day when her auto-immune system was acting up and causing lots of pain, the activity caused all the pain to leave her body once she got past the initial discomfort. After we talked, she got motivated to go home and pull out her low impact exercise DVD. She had forgotten all about it until she shared her remarkable discovery with us.

I hoped to eat healthier after our session, but the choices before me weren’t conducive to giving up some of the foods I hoped to avoid. So, I drank more water today. I figure I don’t drink enough good water and that always helps the body function well.

We also took the time to pray for each other and our loved ones. I felt more peaceful after that time of seeking God and asking His favor. I’ve been praying the “Our Father” from Mat 6:9, (KJV): “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Jesus taught this prayer to His disciples. When I pray this with the ladies, it becomes more than just words I learned as a child. God will help us to have discipline to de-clutter and to do other things that are pleasing to Him if we’ll ask Him for strength and wisdom and time.

“Letting Go of Perfectionism” by Elizabeth Grace Saunders on page 203 spoke to me. She confesses that someone told her she was a perfectionist, but she didn’t have the self-awareness to accept the idea.

That’s why in Job_6:24, (KJV), Job says, “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.”

He doesn’t understand why he’s suffering. He’s unsure if he’s done wrong. I’ve been there. I spoke to a lady one time about sewing curtains and the next thing I knew, she stood with her hands on her hips, an exasperated look on her face, and I scrambled to think. Did I sound like I didn’t approve? I’ve sewed curtains many times for various places we’ve lived. I like homemade curtains. So, I moved along and thought if I see her again, hopefully I’ll know if she wants to remain acquaintances or not.

Anyway, as I read the author’s insight into perfectionism, I found some of those traits plague me. She gives examples on the paralyzing effects of perfectionism. She gives hints on how to do a good job but to keep on moving. I am glad I read it today. I’ve been working on a few different things and finishing none. So, it frustrated me this afternoon. Now I see why I don’t focus sometimes. Feeling it’s not good enough gives me permission to put it aside. When things unfinished hang over my head, I feel the stress level rise up. Not good.

Dear Lord, please help me to have your perspective on life and to finish what I start. I ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Before long I opened the Bible to Psalms and they started out saying in Psalm 105 (NASB): “Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. 3 Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. 4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 5a Remember His wonders which He has done,”

So many of the Psalms touch the emotions. The psalmists expressed praise, anger, disappointment, and admiration.

Psalm 96:1 says, “Sing unto the LORD a new song.” The verses were used to make a song in modern times by Becky Fender and copyrighted in 1984 by Integrity’s Hosanna Music.

So I got to singing the song from all those years ago. What happened to my grumpy mood? Gone like the fog when the sun comes out and evaporates that excess moisture away.

I planned to write for four hours today and clean house for four hours today. I flip flopped my choices. I’m at the library writing and will clean four hours after the library closes. They offer shorter hours of operation on the weekend.

I dropped into K-Mart on my way to the library for a quick purchase – one personal and one for organizing some of my files. As I headed home I prayed: “Library to write or home to clean, Lord?”

The library seemed best and I’m writing this blog entry early in the day because of the choice. I also ran into a lady that started her business – something about being a helper while people are at work – running errands, waiting for repair people to show up at the house, helping to close down summer cottages, a “Jane of all trades,” about the same time I decided to write professionally.

She asked for my business card. I gladly found one tucked in my wallet and handed it over. One never knows.

She’s crazy busy in the summertime, but in the Fall her business drops off. So she has other irons in the fire.

I, too have busy times and less busy times, so as a freelance writer I look for opportunities. I sent my fiction contest entry in on the fourteenth of the month and today I’m working on the Chicken Soup of the Soul story to submit before June 30. I’m thinking I’ll send two stories about teachers and teaching.

The other day I read Randy Ingermanson’s “The Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine,” published on May 9, 2016. He wrote about goal setting and taking small steps so you can stick to the goal until it becomes a habit.

While looking for the May e-zine so I could reference it, I read the June 13, 2016 issue which dealt with keeping too many e-mails and clearing the inbox. Both e-zines get to writing tips and publishing advice which I find helpful. I appreciate his generosity.

Luke_6:38, (KJV) “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again,” Jesus said.

I believe God will bless Randy Ingermanson for his gift to other writers. A similar promise from the Word of God is that people reap what they sow. It’s in Galatians 6:7,8. Of course, that may work for us or against us. A popular saying that means the same thing is “What goes around comes around.”